Frost dates for Elephant Butte Dam, NM
At Elephant Butte Dam, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Mar 13 and the median first fall frost is Nov 15, for a typical growing season of 243 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 2. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 8a.
- Mar 13Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 2Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Nov 15First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 243 daysGrowing season (median)between 32°F freezes
Last spring frost dates
The chance that the temperature drops to the threshold after each date.
| Temperature | 90% chance later | 50% chance later | 10% chance later |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 13 | Mar 30 | Apr 18 |
| 32°F | Feb 26 | Mar 13 | Apr 2 |
| 28°F | Feb 7 | Mar 1 | Mar 21 |
| 24°F | Jan 12 | Feb 9 | Mar 9 |
First fall frost dates
The chance that the temperature has dropped to the threshold by each date.
| Temperature | 10% chance by | 50% chance by | 90% chance by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Oct 22 | Nov 5 | Nov 17 |
| 32°F | Nov 1 | Nov 15 | Nov 28 |
| 28°F | Nov 11 | Nov 26 | Dec 11 |
| 24°F | Nov 23 | Dec 8 | Dec 30 |
Growing season length
Days between the last spring and first fall freeze, as the length reached in 9, 5 and 1 out of 10 years.
| Temperature | 9 in 10 years at least | 5 in 10 years at least | 1 in 10 years at least |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 196 days | 218 days | 240 days |
| 32°F | 218 days | 243 days | 265 days |
| 28°F | 244 days | 269 days | 296 days |
| 24°F | 268 days | 300 days | 332 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 100% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 87901 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 16 km |
Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones shown here are the values published in the USDA-ARS / Oregon State University PRISM Group 2023 ZIP code tables, shown unaltered. For the official interactive map, visit planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
About this station
- NOAA station ID USC00292848, at 33.1461, -107.1842, elevation 1393 m (4,571 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 26 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 69.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Truth Or Consequences (5 km)
- Truth Or Consequence Airport (13 km)
- Caballo Dam (30 km)
- Hillsboro (44 km)
- Winston (49 km)
- Jornada Exp. Range (72 km)
- Las Cruces 20 N (72 km)
- Bosque Del Apache (78 km)
Sources
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal normals by station (version 1.0.1), file dated June 27, 2023; documentation.
- USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP code tables (CONUS, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico), files dated November 17, 2023. Data © PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 1, 2026. Official map: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer ZIP Code Tabulation Areas file, dated August 30, 2024 (ZIP centroids used to find the nearest station).
Freeze dates are 30-year probabilities, not forecasts. Check your local forecast before planting tender plants.